Shoe plate



July 26, 1932 F. D. REYNOLDS SHOE PLATE Filed Aug. l1. 1930 l 50 ings.

Patented July 26, 1932 i c UNITED sTAfr-Es FREDERICK D. vrmnfrr'omns, orsT. Louis, iirlssoimr y sI-roE rnrrrEy Appncationvfuea August 11, 193e."sriai'No. 474,617.

This invention relates.l to newand useful improvements in shoe plates. y

The objects of the invention are to provide a shoe plate having astationary member fixed tothe shoe and a centralinember movably mountedin said stationary vmember and mov-able therein to produce clickingnoise during tap dancing'or walking.

Other objects of the inventionare to 'prolvide a shoe plate comprising-aplurality of' assembled members, including" ak bottom plate i to provideball bearings between .the revolu ble plate and the supportingplatewhereby the weight of the dancer is transmitted through said ballbearings from they retaining plate to the supporting plate. L i

lil/ith theseand objects `in view, my invention consists in certainnovelfeatures of construction and arrangement of parts, here- Y inaftermore fully described and'claimed, and

illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in.

whieh Figure 1 is a bottom view of ashoe having the shoe plate attachedto the'heel'. l j

Figure 2 .is a similar view showing the shoe plate attached to the tipof the sole.

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the shoe plate attached to theshankportion ofthey sole. l Figure 4 is an enlarged bottom plan-view ofthe shoe plate. y fj j l Figure 5 lis avertical ycross section taken online 5--5 of Figure 4 and showingthe' plate attached in position. s

Figure 6 is a top plan view ofamodilied' form of a shoe plateemployingball bear- Figure 7 is avertical sectionY taken on line 7--7 of Figurel6 and showing the shoe plate attached in position. 1 I

Figure'S is a vertical cross section through arliother modified formofmy improved shoe'll y Referring yby numerals to theacc'ompanyingdralwing,A` indicates a shoe having'a y sole B, a heel C, and ashank`portion D.`

The shoeplate V10, which is preferably'cir- 00 y cular yin shape,comprises a retaining mem-` ber 11 anda movable member. 12. Theretainingmember consists ofran outer plate 14 anda supporting or innerplate 15.They retaining plate-or member'14 has a straight 05 flanged portion 16and a downwardly presented cylindrical portion 17. The lower end of thiscylindrical portion is open and terminates in ya horizontally andinwardly presentedannular flange 18; lThe edge of flange 70 16terminatesin an upwardlypresented -annular` flange. 19. The annularflange 18y is spaced a suitable distance below ilangepor-` tion 16 andformsa central openin 20. .y The inner plate 15 has a straigt flanged 15portiony 21k anda central convexk portion 22.

Flangeportion 21 lies against liange 16 of member 14 with the edge' ofsaid portion 21v fitting snugly withinthe upward marginal flange -19 solthat the two plates' are rheldin 30- proper assembled relation. Theycentral con'- veX portion `22 curves outwardly into` the chamberformedby the cylindrical portion The movable member 12y has acylindrical .85.

bodyr portion'24l ,which extends outwardly .through'the flanged opening20` ofv member 11. y The upper edge of this bodyportion 24 f terminatesin a horizontally andoutwardly disposed annularvflange 25 which restsupon 90 thev flange 18 of member '11 and' supports Amember12, inposition and also prevents/removal of member l12 from `said member 11.`

Thebottom 26 of member 12 isV convex or 'curvedoutwardly rand formsthesupporting 95 surface Yfor thel shoe plate.` Thus member 12 isrevoluble withinmember lland has acertain amount of movement inverticalgplane, Bthe extent of lsuch movement being limited on itsdownward vstroke `by annular4 flange `18 10 e Vthe lowerinost portionsand on its upward stroke by the central convex portion Q2 of plate 15. yY

The cylindrical body portion Q-l is of su'liicient depth so that whenmovable ineinber 12 occupies inward position with the upper edgeofflange 25 bearing against the convex portion Q2 the bottoni Q6 ofplate l2 is still disposed below the horizontal plane of annular flange1S. This vertical movement of plate 12 produces, during walking ordancing, the desired clicking noise.

The convex bottom 26 of plate 24 reduces friction so that the wearer caneasily spin or whirl when supported by the slice plate. This feature isparticularly desirable in connection with ballet dancing in which casethe shoe plate would be located at the tip of the shoe.

The plate is attached in position by suitable nails, such as 27, and theflanged portions 1G and 21 are provided with suitable apertures adaptedto coincide for receiving said nails. TWhen the shoe plate is attachedin position, the upward flange 19 of member 14 is forced into theleathei' so that no sharp edges or abrupt surfaces are formed on theshoe plate.

In the modified form shown in Figures G and 7, a ball bearing 28 islocated within the cylindrical portion 29 of movable plate 30. lVhen theplate `30 moves upwardly, said ball bea-ring engages the convex portionof supporting plate 31, thereby providingl antifriction sun aortine;means between said plates and facilitating the revoluble motion betweenthe relative parts. iis the plate 30 and ball bearing 29 are spaced asuitable distance from supporting plate 31, there is sufficient playbetween the parts to produce the desired audible effecty in the modifiedform shown in Figure S, a movable plate is supported .within anintermediate flanged collar 3i which in turn is supported by retainingmember Thus, instead of having only one movable inember. there are twomovable m inbers provided, namely, plate 32 and collar Sil, both ofwhich are adapted to engage the supporting plate 36, and produce thedesired audible elfect.

lVhen in retracted or inward position, the convex face 35 of plate 32 isdisposed below of collar Siand retaining member The shoe plate can beattached Vither to the heel of the shoe, as shown. in Figure 1, or tothe tip of the sole, as shown in Figure 2. In some cases, as forinstance when the shoe plate is used for walking only, the slice platecan, be attached to the shank portion, as shownV in Figure 3. The sliceplate is formed so that all sharp corners or abrupt surfaces areeliminated so that there is no danger of injuring the iioor orstuniblingLeeayea on account of strikingirregularities in the floor.

The component parts of the shoe plate are so constructed that they canbe formed from stamping, thus reducing the cost of manufacture 'tominimum and providing a strong and wear-resistance structure.

l claim:

l. A shoe attachment comprising a retaining member having a cylindricalbody portion open at both ends and flanged outwardly at its upper endand inwardly at its lower end, a movable member having a convex bottomdisposed below the lower end of said cylindrical body portion and havingan outvardly presented flanged upper end engaging the inwardly flangedlower end of said body portion, said movable member being reveluble andmovable in a vertical plane with respect to said retaining member, and1iosure plate ciosing the upper end of said LAndiical portion andengageable by said movable member upon the upward movenient of thelatter.

A shoe attachment comprising` a retain-l ing member having a cylindricalbody portion open at beth ends and flanged outwardly at its upper endand mwinrdly at its lower end, a movable member having a convex bottomdisposed below the lower end of.v said cylindrical body portion andhavingl an outwardly presented iianged upper end engaging the inwardlyflanged lower end cf said body portion, said movable ineinbe.'

being revoluble and movableiin a vertical` plane with respect to saidretaining meinber, and a closureplate closing` the upper end of saidcylindrical portion and engageable by said movable member upon theupward movement of the latter, said closure.

plate having a convex central portion extending into said cylindricalportion and being adapted to be engaged by the upper flanged end of saidmovable member, thereby limiting the upward movement of said mov: blemember and providing a striking plate therefor.

3. A shoe attachment of the class described comprising a member adaptedto bc attached to a shoe and having a central por-.

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